Criticism Over Lease Cost for Mayor Wharton’s Car

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(Memphis) - Memphis Mayor A C Wharton’s new 2013 Cadillac is getting more scrutiny, especially the monthly lease payment of $1,200 that taxpayers are footing the bill for.

“A Chevy Malibu would be perfect,” said Natasha Neal, as she laughed.

She believes she has the answer to Memphis Mayor's $1,200 car payment.

“You can pay my car note up to five times,” Neal said about her Malibu.

Tuesday, Memphis City council members learned Wharton got a new car.

One councilman says it’s not the best way to spend money when budget cuts are needed.

“They're not thinking about the people in Memphis,” said Neal. “$1,200? You could help a family.”

So, what can you get for $1,200 per month?

“This is the Kia Optima,” said Myron Moses who showed us his lot. “You can get six of these for $1,200 per month.

Moses runs the Gossett Kia on Covington Pike and says people often consider leases, “It is short term. You're paying for the use of the vehicle, not the ownership of the vehicle and you get low payments,” he said.

Moses says leases are more often used for high end cars, like a Cadillac GTS.

He says a lease works best for those who buy new cars every couple of years, like those provided to a mayor.

“You're just using the vehicle, it's like renting the vehicle for two years and then you walk away. There are no strings attached and you jump into a brand new one,” he said. “If you trade out every two to three years than it's a good deal for you.”

By the end of the lease, they city will have paid $30,000 and have nothing to show for it.

“Where does it end?” Neal asked.

The city administrator says the $1,200 payment is not all that it seems.